Hinge structure



May 4, 1948. H, J. BENSQN 2,440,817

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed March 6, 1945 4 Il; (Il. r11/11111111 jj Z-j565 j', hilf/15 vl2 54 r vy gw GMW Patented May 4;, 1948 UNITED stas tric innen STRUCTURE Harold .lerome Benson, Pasadena., Calif., assigner to Hartwell Aviation Supply Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 6, 1945, Serial No. 581,201

4 claims. (c1. :le- 163) Third, to provide a hinge structure which is' particularly suited for installation in the surfaces of aircraft or other vehicles where uninterrupted streamlining is essential.

With the above and other objects in View as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a planview of a hinge showing the inner side thereof and indicating fragmentarily the supporting structure and door or panel to which the hinge is attached.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the hinge taken through 2 2 of Fig. 1 and indicating by dotted lines the open position of the hinge.

The hinge includes a center plate I iianked by a pair of leaf plates 2. The center plate is in the form of a relatively narrow strip initially provided with laterally extending arms at its extremities, which are rolled to form parallel disposed sets of hinge bearings 3. The leaf plates are likewise relatively narrow and each is initially provided at the central portion of one side with a lateral arm which is rolled to form a hinge bearing 4. The hinge bearings 4 and corresponding hinge bearings 3 receive hinge pins 5. The hinge bearings 4 are preferably split by slots 6 exposing the pins 5.

A spring I is provided, which includes a pair of coil portions 8 connected by a bridge portion 9 and having arms I 9 extending laterally from the coils 8. The coils 8 of the spring are wrapped about the pins 5, its bridge portion 9 extends across the center blade I, and its arms Ill bear against the leaf plates 2 in such a manner that each leaf plate tends to occupy a rightangular relation with the center plate I.

The abutting ends of the bearings 3 and l are preferably shaped to form overlapping steps II and I2, respectively. These steps are se proportioned that they limit the pivotal movement ofthe leaf plates to approximately 80 or 90. One extreme position of each leaf plate is flush with the center plate I, such position, however,

"' only being maintained against the force of the spring 7.

In order that the hinge may be mounted sothat its exposed portions are flush with the door indicated by I3 and the supporting structure indicated by It, it is desirable to provide offsets i5 equal in thickness to that of the door and supporting structure. The leaf plates are suitably riveted Aor otherwise secured to the door and supporting structure. When the door is closed the center plate I and adjacent portions of the leaf plates 2 are exposed and are ush with the sur-- faces of the inspection door and supporting structure as shown in Fig. 2. When the door is opened, by reason of the dual pivotal movement afforded by the two pins 5, the door may be swung outwardly and backwardly against the supporting structure as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure, comprising: a central plate; a pair of leaf plates extending along opposite edges of said central plate; hinge elements formed along the confronting edges of each leaf plate and said central plate, said elements being flush with one common side of their respective plates; hinge pins threaded through said elements, said leaf plates moving between a coplanular position flush with said central plate and substantially parallel positions in approximately rightangular relation to said central plate; and a spring element coiled on said hinge pins, bridging said central plate and terminating in arms bearing against said leaf plates to urge said leaf plates toward their rightangular relation with said central plate.

2. A hinge structure, comprising: a central plate; a pair of leaf plates extending along opposite edges of said central plate; hinge elements formed along the confronting edges of each leaf plate and said central plate, said elements being flush with one common side of their respective plates; hinge pins threaded through said elements, said leaf plates moving between a coplanular position iiush with said central plate and substantially parallel positions in approximately rightangular relation to said central plate, said hinge elements having interlocking axially directed stops engageable to limit the relative arcuate movement of said plates; and a spring element coiled on said hinge pins, bridging said central plate and terminating in arms bearing against said leaf plates to urge said leaf plates hinge pins threaded through said elements, said 1l)J leaf plates moving between a coplanular position flush with said central plate and substanti'allyk parallel positions in approximately rightangular relation to said central plate; said leafl plates having offset shoulders whereby, when said leat plates 1,5

are extended respectively behind a door and its supporting structure, said door, supporting strueture, and central plate are flush when the door is in closed position.y

4. In a. hinge structure for ush installation of a d'oor in a supporting structurer a central plate; a pair of leaf plates extending along opposite edges or said central' plate; hinge elements form-ed along the confronting edges or each leaf' plate and said' central plate', said elements being flush with one common side of their respective plates: hinge pins threaded through said' elements; said leaf plates: moving between a coplanular position" 'ush with., sai-d. central plate and substantially parallel positions in approximately rlghtangular relation to said central plate; said leaf plates having offset shoulders whereby, when said leaf plates are extended respectively behind a door and its supporting structure, said door, supporting structure, and central plate are ush; and a spring element coiled on said hinge pins, bridging said central plate and terminating in arms bearing against said leaf plates to urge said leaf' plates toward their rightangular relation with said central plate, thereby to open said door until substantially paralle't with and outwardly of said supporting struc.- ture.

HAROLD JEROME BENSON.

REFERENCES CITED ifoiiefwing references are of record in thev file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

